Waste disposal apparatus



Nov. 26, 1963 Filed Aug. 22, 1961 J. W. YARTZ WASTE DISPOSAL APPARATUSFIGJ 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. g'onuuv w. YARTZ HIS ATTO RNEY Nov. 26,1963 J. w. YARTZ 3,112,077

WASTE DISPOSAL APPARATUS Filed Aug. 22, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4GQ Q OQ/Q'IS' G INVENTOR. J'OHNNY, W. YARTZ H\S ATTORNEY United States Patent3,112,077 WASTE DHSP USAL APPARATU5 Johnny W. Yartz, Anchorage, Kym,assignor to General Electric @ompany, a. corporation of New York FiledAug. 22, 1961, Ser. No. 133,143 6 Claims. (Cl. 241-73) This inventionrelates to food waste disposal apparatus of the type which is attachedto a sink drain for receiving a mixture of garbage and water and fromwhich a mixture of commiuuted waste and water is directed to the drainpipe.

The invention is especially applicable to apparatus employing astationary shredding means in cooperation with a rotatable flywheel withpivoted impeller means serving to force waste material against theshredding means and with the rotatable portions of the apparatus beingdriven at speeds heretofore generally considered impractical.

Various problems in food waste disposal apparatus construction andoperation include the possibility of jamming of the movable parts undercertain conditions, the possibility of stoppage of the drain due to anexcessive rate of discharge from the apparatus, the possibility ofgenerating excessive noise during the operation of the apparatus, thepossibility of overheating of the motor, the difficulty in meeting spacelimitations for installation, and the ever present matter of securingcost reduction without sacrificing of other desirable features.

This invention contemplates the provision of novel and improvedconstruction and relative arrangement of portions of the conventionaltypes of food waste disposal apparatus making it practical to drive therotatable parts at high speeds while at the same time overcomingproblems of the above indicated nature.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent asthe following description proceeds and the features of novelty whichcharacterize the invention will be pointed out with particularity in theclaims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

in accordance with the invention 1 provide a hopper and a drainagechamber receiving water and comminuted waste material from the hopperafter passage through apertures in an annular stationary metering andstraining ring interposed between the hopper and the chamber. Astationary shredding means is mounted upon the hopper separately fromthe ring, and the apertures in the ring are of such size and so locatedthat the angular momentum of the contents of the hopper cannot force thedischarge of those contents too rapidly into the chamber. This angularmomentum is normally of a relatively high value established by thepresence of water or water and waste material in the hopper, by thediameter of the hopper, and by the speed of rotation of an impeller, thedistal end of which normally travels in an orbit overlying the inneredge of the annular ring and preferably overlying a portion of theapertures therein. A circular flywheel driven by an electrical motornormally operating at a speed of not less than about 6330 rpm. providesa mounting for the impeller means. This impeller means is pivoted sothat its distal end swings outwardly under centrifugal forces, but mayalso pivot inwardly to avoid jamming actions. Moreover, the motorpreferably is characterized by a high starting torque, and the flywheelincludes at least some imperforate portions which together with theimperforate portions of the ring serve to prevent too rapid a drainageof the contents of the hopper into the drainage chamber while theapparatus is operating, the periphery of the flywheel being disposed inclose running clearance with the inner edge of the annular ring.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be made tothe following description and accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, of one embodiment of awaste disposal device incorporating the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional plan view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the hopper wallshowing a shredding means.

Referring to FIG. 1, I have shown my invention in one form as applied toa waste disposal device having a generally cylindrical tubular casing orhopper ll) providing an interioriy grinding or shredding space ill atthe bottom of which the comminuting of waste material takes placerapidly as will later be described. The hopper may conveniently beformed of sheet metal, stainless steel being preferred, and at its upperend is provided with means suitable for supporting the device in thedrain opening of a sink or the like. This supporting means for example,may include a cylindrical tubular sleeve 12 which is arranged to beinserted down through the sink opening and having at its upper end anoutwardly extending circular flange 13 adapted to overlie the edge 14 ofthat drain opening. The lower end of the sleeve is provided with aninturned flange 15 adapted to support a suitable sink stopper 16. Thesleeve 12 not only serves to direct the waste material and water to thehopper id but also serves as a supporting means for the waste disposaldevice. Accordingly, the sleeve itself is rigidly secured to the bottomwall of the sink. This may be accomplished by means of a metal mountingring 17 which encircles the depending sleeve 12 and is provided with aseries of spaced bosses 18 having corresponding threaded bolts 19engageable therein. On its inner periphery the ring 17 is seated on asnap ring 28 which is confined within a suitably shaped groove 21, onthe outer circumference of the sleeve 12, and to resist upward movementof that sleeve. The bolts function to clamp the flange 13 of the sleeve12 to the door of the sink by means of a clamping ring 22 encircling thesleeve 12 and having a vibration-dampening gasket 23 interposed betweenthat clamping ring and the undersurface of that sink. As will beapparent, when the bolts 19 are screwed upwardly they will pull theflange 13 of the sleeve into tight engagement with the sink around theedge 14 of the opening therein and compress the gasket between theclamping ring 22 and the undersurface of the sink.

As shown and described in a copending application of Johnny W. Yartz andFrancis J. Clements, Eerial No. 133,219 filed August 22, 196i andassigned to the General Electric Company, the assignee of the presentapplication, the upper end of the hopper is embedded in avibrationdampening boot 3% adapted for mounting in sealing contact withthe outer surface of the sleeve 12. A clamp band having a flange 32 forarrangement with the lower end of a series of supporting hooks 33 isarranged in circumferential clamping relation to the boot and may betightened by means of a conventional screw 34 joining the two ends, oneend being shown at 35, of that clamp band 31. The upper ends of thesupporting hooks in turn are mounted within suitable recesses in themounting ring 17 and these hooks serve to support the hopper it securelyin position under the sleeve 12 while at the same time the boot 3%,which preferably is formed of rubber, serves to prevent transmission ofvibration from the hopper to the sleeve and to eifect a sealing againstpassage of liquid between that hopper and the exterior of that sleeve.

At its lower end the hopper id is for ed with an outwardly flaringflange 3-6 which is tightly clamped, as by means of a clamping band 37,to the upper end of a motor housing 38. This housing preferably, but notnecessarily, is molded of plastic material, an epoxy resin beingsuitable for this purpose, and is formed in its upper portions with asloping bottom drainage chamber 39 leading to a side outlet 50. A drainconduit 41 suitably sealed against liquid let kage by means of avibration-dampening rubber O-ring 42 connects the drainage chamber tothe stationary drain line from the sink.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention an electric motorcharacterized by its high starting torque and relatively high runningspeed during the comminuting of the waste material, is mounted withinthe motor housing in encapsulated relation thereto. Such a motor maycomprise an A.C. series wound motor and in the conventional food wastedisposer for household usage the motor would be of fractional horsepowersize. Suitable leads, not shown, extend to the motor and form part of anelectrical circuit having the customary switches and overload protectiverelay therein, the nature of which form no part of the present inventionand, being conventional, are not shown herein. The stator of the motormay be embedded in the plastic motor housing and with an armature 44being supported at its lower end upon a conventional thrust bearingmounted in the bottom wall of the motor housing. Extending upwardly fromthe armature is a shaft 45' having an inwardly directed shoulder 46 andwith a threaded upper end 47 projecting into the hopper grinding space11. This shaft is journalled in a suitable bearing 48 which in turn ispositioned within a tubular cylindrical bearing cup 49, the lower end ofwhich includes a laterally extending flange 5G. The periphery of theflange 53 is supported by a sealing ring 51 resting in a recess withinthe rotor space of the motor housing thus to prevent leakage of liquidinto the motor and at the same time serving to enclose that motor. Anannular bearing cup ring 52 having a downwardly facing rim pressingagainst the flange serves to hold the described assembly in properposition, the bearing cup ring 52 being securely affixed to the motorhousing as by means of a series of screws 53.

A short metallic sleeve bushing 54- extending axially of the motor shaftand resting at its lower end upon the shoulder 46 of that shaft servesto position an improved rotatable comminuting assembly to be describedhereinafter. A suitable resilient-material end cap 55 which fits with atight fit interiorly of and over the top edge of the bearing cup 49 alsosurrounds the bushing 54 with a tight fit and prevents leakage of liquidinto the bearing cup 49. A conventional lubrication wick 56 preferablyis enclosed within the bearing cup.

As best shown in the co-pending application of Francis J. Clements,Serial No. 133,142, filed August 22, 1961, and assigned to the GeneralElectric Company, the assignee of the present invention, the rotatablecomminuting means may comprise a circular flywheel 60 having a centralopening receiving with a loose fit the upper end 47 of the motor shaftand with the flywheel having a circular peripheral outer edge 61. Thecentral portion of the flywheel is adapted to bear against the upper endof the bushing 54. A small rubber O-ring 62 to prevent leakage of liquidalong that shaft is interposed between the bushing and the flywheel. Oneor more swinging impellers, here shown as two at 62 and 63, are mountedto partake of the rotation of the flywheel. These impellers may eachhave a vertical hole 64 therethrough to receive a cylindrical shaftportion 65 of a retainer member 66, the hole 64 being so located as topermit swinging or pivotal motion of the impeller about that shaftportion 65. An extension 67 of the shaft portion 65 projects downwardlyand is received in a hole 68 formed in the flywheel 60. For ease ofhandling, the extensions 67 are rolled over to hold the flywheelimpellers, and retainer in an assembled relation.

The retainer member 66 is provided with a centrally located threadedaperture 69 and upon being screwed downwardly upon the threaded end 47of the motor shaft thus confines the flywheel against the bushing 54 andthe impeller or impellers between the flywheel and retainer Cir member.Accordingly the motor shaft, the flywheel, the impellers, and theretainer member are joined together for rotation as a unit.

With the above described portions of the disposal apparatus in mind,reference now is made to FIGS. 2 and 3 depicting significant structureemployed in the carrying out of the present invention. Since therotatable portions of the apparatus are to move at a speed generallyconsidered impractically high, conventional motor speeds in this type ofapparatus being about 1760 rpm. or about 3600 r.p.m., it is apparentthat an angular momentum of high magnitude will be imparted by theimpeller or impellers to the contents of the hopper 10 within thegrinding space 1.1. In the event that a conventional grinding ringhaving radial openings draining the contents of the hopper into thedrainage space 39 were to be employed, this angular momentum would causethe water and waste material to move rapidly into the drainage chamberand to clog the drain conduit 41, or the gooseneck portion or trap ofthe drain outlet. This difllculty is avoided, however, by provision of asuitable metering ring 70 which further serves as a strainer and, asshown, the ring 70 may be of flat annular shape having an outerperipheral portion 71 engageable in a recess within the upper part ofthe motor housing and held in place by the flange 36 of the hopper, asuitable sealing ring 72 being positioned under that flange to preventleakage of liquid thrown toward this junction of the respective parts.The metering ring further has an inner peripheral portion terminating inan edge spaced closely adjacent the circular edge 61 of the flywheel andwith a close running clearance, for example, in the order of 0035-0040inch. As will be understood, the rotatable unit of the comminuting meansis dynamically balanced and the threads of the shaft and retainer aresuch as to tighten the parts of the unit together during turning of theshaft.

As a significant feature, the metering ring contains a plurality ofholes 74 between its inner and outer peripheral portions and throughwhich water and comminutcd waste material pass into the drainage chamber39. The number, size and positioning of these holes with respect to thesweeping movement of the contents of the hopper is such as to result ina predetermined metering discharge of those contents when the impellersare travelling at a speed of rotation of 6000 rpm. or higher and thisrate of discharge is such as to permit the expelled material to passthrough the drain piping without clogging. It has been found thatexceptionally satisfactory results are secured when the metering ring isdisposed in a horizontal plane providing passage of the material axiallyof the hopper into the drainage chamber.

Since the apparatus when at rest should not obstruct flow of water fromthe sink to the drain outlet, I prefer to employ a number of holes 75 inthe flywheel so that such water may have a comparatively free flowwithout having to pass entirely through the holes in the metering ring.The number and size of such holes in the flywheel, however, is such thata substantial imperforate area 76 of the flywheel remains, which inconjunction with the imperforate areas of the ring 71 will assure thedesired metering action during usage of the apparatus.

As a further significant feature of the invention, the stationarygrinding or shredding member cooperating with the rotatable portions ofthe comrninuting means is physically separate from the metering ringthrough which the comminuted waste passes. As best seen in FIG. 2, thisshredding member may conveniently comprise a metallic pad 79 which maybe readily welded in position upon the sheet metal hopper 10, a similarpad 80 being located on the diametrically opposite wall of the hopper.Heretofore, the welding of the pads has not been possible on castshredding rings. These pads 79 and 80 are each provided with an upperinwardly projecting lip 81 with a suitably sharpened edge, and with asimilar lower lip 82 spaced vertically from the upper lip. These lips ofthe pad are located above the metering ring 70 and the innermost edge ofthe lower lip 82 is located so that the distal ends of the pivotedimpellers 62 and 63 will move in an orbit closely adjacent theretoduring the comminuting action. As will be understood the lower lip 82 isso located as to intercept waste materials of higher specific gr avitiesand the upper lip is located so as to intercept waste materials of lowerspecific gravities. Suitable flipper means 83 and 84 may be located onthe upper surfaces of the retainer 66 so as to prevent material ridingwith the retainer and as best seen in FIG. 2. the leading edges 85 and86 of the retainer may be suitably sloped so as to propel materialupwardly in the grinding space 11.

In general for use in domestic food waste disposers only two grindingpads are required with the result as has been shown in FIG. 2 thatsubstantially all of the circumference of the inner wall of the hopperis unobstructed. Moreover since the metering ring preferably isphysically separate from the hopper that inner wall may be kept smoothand imperforate and will oifer less resistance to the movement of thevolume of water and Waste material thereacross than found in other typesot hopper constructions. Accordingly a steady angular momentum may beimparted to the contents of the hopper under the influence of theimpellers and at the same time those impellers will be receiving fromthose contents a substantial and steady torque loading all of which isdesirable for usage of the aforementioned high speed motor. It will ofcourse be understood that water is continually being supplied to thehopper from the sink during the com-minuting of the waste material andthat water and comminuted waste material are constantly being dispensedinto the drainage chamber 39 but at a rate insufilcient to clog thedrainage outlet.

As one feature of the invention a clear diflference in the sound 00: thegrinding noise has been noted during the operation of the describedapparatus. Not only is the intensity of the grinding sound of vibrationassociated with such operation less noticeable but it appears to be of aless annoying nature than found in conventional apparatus. The reasonfor this is not completely understood but it may be somewhat analogousto the dififcrence in sounds associated with a hammer mill assembly andwith less massive abrading or milling actions Where the cutting is moreuniform. For example in comminuting bones within the hopper it may bethat such bones being entrained in the swirling mass of material andpushed by the impellers can now be pressed against the sharpened lips ofthe pads and receive a repeated niclzing action rather than relying onthe hammer stroke of the pivoted impellers in cooperation with dozens ofcutting teeth on the shredding ring. It further is noted that even whenemploying only two grinding pads and with a rotatable assembly havingtwo impellers the comminuting action for a given volume of waste may becompleted in less time than when using conventional waste disposers withlower speed motion and many more grinding pads. This reduction inrequired time of operation which is limited largely to the rate at whichthe metering ring permits discharge is of course desirable whenemploying the high starting torque type of motor since it obviates thedanger of overheating of such motor. In addition it is desirable fromthe point of view of the user of the apparatus.

It is preferred to have the distal ends of the impellers travel in anorbit lying outboard of the peripheral edge 61 of the flywheel. Theseimpellers as disclosed in the aforementioned Clements application formpart of a dynamically balanced rotatable assembly and are used in pairs.The holes '74 in the metering ring further serve a straining functionpreventing oversize particles of waste from entering the drainagechamber and due to the scouring action of the mass or" materials beingimpelled at high angular momentum the materials failing to pass throughthe holes '74 are immediately re-entrained in the swirling mass abovethe metering ring and then brought into further contact with the lips ofthe pads 79 and 849. Although the use of only two shredding pads ispreferred the invention is not limited to this number since one or moresuch pads may be employed. However when more than two pads are used aslower commuting action occurs and the torque loading on the impellersis substantially increased.

While I have shown and described a specified embodiment of my inventionI do not desire my invention to be limited to the particularconstruction shown and described and I intend by the appended claims tocover all modifications within the true spirit and scope of theinvention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. In a food waste disposal apparatus having a stationary hopper with animperrforate side wall enclosing a comminuting chamber, a rotatablecornminuting assembly including a circular flywheel and a waste impellermeans mounted on the top surface of said flywheel, the flywheel having avertical axis of rotation and forming a bottom wall of said comminutingchamber, a drainage chamber disposed beneath said flywheel for receivingwater and comminuted waste material from said hopper, a flathorizontally disposed metering ring physically confined between saidhopper and drainage chamber and having a plurality of vertical aperturestherein for joining said chambers with each other, said ring beinglocated in substantially the same plane as the flywheel but slightlybelow the top surface of the flywheel, at least one waste shredding padmounted on the inner side wall of said hopper in close proximity to thepath of movement of the distal end of said impeller means, and motormeans for rotating said flywheel.

2. In a food waste disposal apparatus having a hopper of thin sheetmetal with an imperforate side wall enclosing a comrninuting chamber, arotatable comminuting assembly including a circular flywheel and atleast one swinging impeller pivotally mounted on the top surface of saidflywheel, the flywheel having a vertical axis of rotation and forming abottom wall of said comminuting chamber, a drainage chamber disposedbeneath said fiywheel for receiving water and comminuted waste materialfrom said hopper, a flat metering ring surrounding the flywheel andlying in substantially the same plane as the flywheel with the topsurface of the flywheel slightly above the metering ring, the meteringring having a plurality of vertical apertures therein joining saidchambers with each other, a waste shredding pad welded upon the innerwall of said sheet metal hopper in close proximity to the path ofmovement of the distal end of said pivoted impeller, and motor means forrotating said flywheel at high speeds above 6000 rpm. thereby to causesaid impeller to impart to the contents or" said hopper an angularmomentum carrying said contents with substantial force against saidshredding pad until such time as the size of each individual wasteparticle has been reduced so that it is able to drop through one of thevertical apertures in said metering ring.

3. In a [food waste disposal apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein thewelded shredding pad is of flat sheet material that is made integralwith the imperforate wall of the hopper, the lower horizontal edge ofthe sheet projecting inwardly from the hopper wall within the plane ofthe path of movement of the impeller, while the upper horizontal edge ofthe pad projects in a similar manner inwardly from the hopper wall butis spaced above said plane of movement or" the impeller.

4. In a food waste disposal apparatus having a vertical hopper with animpe-rforate side Wall enclosing a com lminuting chamber, at least oneshredding pad attached to the inner surface of said side wall, a narrowmetering ring of thin sheet material assembled within the comminutingchamber around the side wall of the hopper and beneath the shreddingpad, the ring having a plurality of vertical apertures extendingcompletely around the ring, a rotatable comminuting assembly including aflywheel located within the center of said ring and in the plane thereofto rotate about a vertical axis, motor means for driving the flywheel ata high speed greater than 6000 r.p.m., and impeller means located on thetop surface of the flywheel, the outermost end of the impeller mewsextending beyond the periphery of the flywheel to sweep over a portionof the apertures in the metering ring and in close proximity to theshredding pad when the flywheel is rotated.

5. In a waste disposal apparatus having a vertical hopper with animperforate side wall enclosing a comminuting chamber, at least oneshredding pad attached to the inner surface of said side wall, adrainage chamber disposed beneath said comminuting chamber for receivingwater and comminuted waste material from said hopper, a narrow meteringring of thin sheet material being sandwiched between the lower end ofthe hopper and the upper end of the drainage chamber, said ring having aplurality of vertical apertures extending completely around the ring forpassing comminuted waste and water from the comminuting chamber to thedrainage chamber, a flywheel located within the center of the meteringring and lying within the plane thereof to rotate about a vertical axis,motor means for driving the flywheel at a high speed greater than 6000r.p.m., and impeller means located on the top surface of the flywheel,the outermost end of the impeller means extending beyond the peripheryof the flywheel and overlying a portion of the metering ring and beingin close proximity to the shredding pad when the flywheel is rotated.

6. In a food waste disposal apparatus having a vertical hopper with animperforate side wall enclosing a comminuting chamber, a pair ofshredding pads attached to the inner surface of said side wall atdiametrical opposed positions, a narrow metering ring of thin sheetmaterial assembled within the comzninuting chamber around the side wallof the hopper and beneath the shredding pads, the ring having aplurality of vertical apertures extending completely around the ring, adrainage chamber located under the hopper for receiving water and wastematerial that passes from the hopper through the apertures in themetering ring, the metering ring being clamped between the lower portionof the hopper and the upper portion of the drainage chamber, a flywheellocated within the center of said ring and lying in the plane thereof torotate about a vertical axis, motor means for driving the flywheel at ahigh speed greater than 6000 r.p.m., and a pair of swing ing impellerslocated on the top surface of the flywheel at diametrically oppositepositions, the outermost end of each impeller extending beyond theperiphery of flywheel to sweep over a portion of the apertures in themetering ring and in close proximity to the shredding pads when theflywheel is rotated.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,536,929 Ham mel Jan. 2, 1951 2,565,322 Powers Aug. 21, 1951 2,583,997Chester Jan. 29, 1952 2,619,654 Coss Dec. 2, 1952 2,627,075 Benson Feb.3, 1953 2,753,121 Elfenbein July 3, 1956 2,824,703 Van Hook Feb. 25,1958 2,846,152 Brophy Aug. 5, 1958 2,947,486 Higer Aug. 2, 19602,950,868 Lannert Aug. 30, 1960 2,954,174 Polleys Sept. 27, 19603,005,596 Jenkins Oct. 24, 1961 3,009,656 Martindale Nov. 21, 1961

1. IN A FOOD WASTE DISPOSAL APPARATUS HAVING A STATIONARY HOPPER WITH ANIMPERFORATE SIDE WALL ENCLOSING A COMMINUTING CHAMBER, A ROTATABLECOMMINUTING ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A CIRCULAR FLYWHEEL AND A WASTE IMPELLERMEANS MOUNTED ON THE TOP SURFACE OF SAID FLYWHEEL, THE FLYWHEEL HAVING AVERTICAL AXIS OF ROTATION AND FORMING A BOTTOM WALL OF SAID COMMINUTINGCHAMBER, A DRAINAGE CHAMBER DISPOSED BENEATH SAID FLYWHEEL FOR RECEIVINGWATER AND COMMINUTED WASTE MATERIAL FROM SAID HOPPER, A FLATHORIZONTALLY DISPOSED METERING RING PHYSICALLY CONFINED BETWEEN SAIDHOPPER AND DRAINAGE CHAMBER AND HAVING A PLURALITY OF VERTICAL APERTURESTHEREIN FOR JOIN-